Same as cholesterin The termination -ol is used to indicate that chemically the substance belongs to the class of alcohols, A white crystalline substance, C27H45OH, found in animal tissues and various foods, that is normally synthesized by the liver and is important as a constituent of cell membranes and a precursor to steroid hormones Cholesterol is transported through the bloodstream as different types of lipoproteins, two of which (HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol) are routinely measured in blood tests